Style SOS: My hair is thinning. Do I need to change how I dress?

What to wear when you're losing your hair?

"My hair has recently started thinning, and while I don't mind so much, I wonder if there's anything I should do to update the way I dress?" - Harrison via Instagram

When it comes to thinning hair, you’re not alone, Harrison. By the age of 35, 40% of men will have encountered some level of hair loss. So should your style be impacted by your shifting hairline? The decision is entirely yours, but if you’ve been looking for a reason to update your wardrobe and take on a more mature look, it’s as good of an excuse as any.

Many guys happen to look better with less hair — as we’re learning from the spike of buzzcut heads as of late — so a style update might help complete your new-and-improved look. If you’re still warming up to your changing hair and would prefer to distract from it (at least for now), we’ve got some ideas for you too.

Embrace the look

The most important factor in dressing to suit your new hair is confidence. Whether you love the look or are taking a little longer to get used to it, you can at least embrace a new way of dressing. Consider it the perfect excuse to polish up your style, and make small changes to create a more distinguished wardrobe.

“You’ve probably already considered a new haircut,” stylist Artemis Crowley says, “but dressing in a way that makes you feel good will also have a positive effect on how you behave, and therefore how you appear.

“If you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, you’re more likely to be open and at ease, which will make you appear to be more stylish. If your hair is thinning but you’re not ready to go fully bald yet, consider how your haircut makes you feel, as well as how you dress.”

Pick complementary colours

If you’re looking to distract from your hairline, start by looking for accents that will attract the eye, and therefore draw attention away from your head. For example, if you have lighter skin, you should look to darker colours to complement your complexion without bringing emphasis to it, and vice versa. Cream or beige near your face can seem like a continuation of your skin tone, and the same applies for dark shades against dark skin. Embracing bolder colours that contrast with your skin tone will help to break up your look, and draw more attention to what you’re wearing.

Find the right accessories

If you’re into accessorising, sunglasses, hats, and even watches can also draw attention away from your hairline. Glasses in particular are great for breaking up the colour on your face to distract from what’s happening on top, but any accessorising can become the focal point of your look. If you don’t wear glasses or aren’t a natural accessoriser, but you want to start adding more interest to your outfits, go for something more subtle like an interesting belt or watch, or a patterned tie for more formal looks.

Dress for your age

Sure, men as young as 18 can experience thinning hair, but that’s not an indicator of the age you should be dressing for. This might seem like a no-brainer, but dressing for your age whilst accommodating your new, thinner-on-top look may take a bit more consideration than you think. For example, looser-fitting necklines can draw attention to your head as they show more skin around your neck and face. Go for something more refined like a turtleneck, which complements thinner hairlines by framing your face, or a V-neck t-shirt if you still want to show a little skin.